The "AUSTRALIAN DX REPORT", is a free service of the ELECTRONIC DX PRESS RADIO MONITORING ASSOCIATION and contains professionally compiled information about world shortwave broadcasting, with monitoring research.

The site allows you to listen to the ADXR and other audio features directly (streaming audio) via your MP3 player, or via the site's embedded mini-player. Podcasts, iTunes capability, full RSS/XML/Atom feeds, and free subscriptions are supported - full details are at the site.Good listening to the Australian DX Report Episode No. 123!Bob Padula,Melbourne

Thanks to contributor Ron Howard, for the following update on ShiokazeGayle VH

Recently I have been corresponding with Shiokaze (via COMJAN), providing information about their transmission on 6020 (including an emailed audio clip of their reception) and the North Korean jamming that recently appeared there. Went on to suggest perhaps it was time to change to a new frequency again. Once I noticed they had in fact changed frequency, I inquired about it, as I couldn't immediately find them. Received this response:

Thank you very much for your information. We have changed the frequency 26th October because there was strong jamming from North Korea. Now we don't disclose the frequency number because of avoiding jamming from North Korea. So we would like ask you to search our frequency near 6020 khz. Maybe you can easily touch with new frequency. Sincerely yours, Sadaki MANABE (COMJAN Vice representative). (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Oct 31)

- - - - - Ron posted:UTC time *sign-off

North Korea: (non). 5910, Shiokaze/Sea Breeze (tentative). 1419-1430*, Oct 30. Since Oct 27 have been unable to locate Shiokaze. Only Vietnam in the clear on ex: 6020. Checked some former frequencies: 6015 (only very weak station there), 6005 (strong Russia with QRM from jamming of 6003) and 5985 (only Myanma R.), but no sign of Shiokaze. Today noted a woman announcer in Japanese with Shiokaze type piano music in the background. Heard clear mention of Tokyo, as with the usual Shiokaze ID, but somehow I was not hearing the distinct Shiokaze ID, or maybe I just missed it? Needs more work to confirm this (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1)

FRS-Holland will be on air next Sunday November 2nd 2008. The broadcast will start at 08.00 UTC/09.00 CET and close down will be at 12.00 UTC/13.00 CET. Of course we do hope propagation will be satisfactory that day. Programme line-up consists of FRS Magazine, German Service, FRS Goes DX and FRS Golden Show.Ingredients....great music, DX News, letters, the day calendar for November 2nd, a radior retelated Internet item and an extract of a landbased pirate station of the past. Radio entertainment on a Sunday. Tune in...6220 kHz/ 48 metres.That same day 15.00- 18.00 UTC/16.00- 20.00 CET will see a full repeat on the internet.Check on your computer http://nednl.net:8000/frsh.m3u.

All letters from the previous broadcast are handled coming your way very soon (with the brandnew QSL cards).

February 2007 we started a new series consisting of four different QSL cards called the FRS Transmitter Series. QSL #4 will be issued ifor next Sunday's broadcast. Edition 33 of FRS News is out now containing four A4 pages full of information and columns.A copy can be obtained simply by sending 2 euro to our mailing address. Alternativelyyou can get yourself a free digital copy provided you have MS Publisher on your computer. In that case just send us an e-mail.73s, Peter V. (on behalf of the FRS staff)

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Today the Voice of Russia radio station marks its birthday. It was 79 years ago that Moscow began broadcasting for other states. Within that period the Voice of Russia acquainted the world with life in Russia and provided comprehensive and unbiased information of what was happening in the country. According to the company’s First Deputy Chairman Andrei Davydenko, despite its considerable age the Voice of Russia is not aging, on the contrary, its broadcasts are as topical and up-to-date as ever. This pertains to latest trends in providing information and communication opportunities. The Voice of Russia is justly believed to be one of the world’s leaders in the field and a pioneer of domestic digital broadcasting. But the main achievement of the Voice of Russia, Andrei Davydenko says, is the fact it has helped listeners everywhere in the world to better understand Russia.29.10.2008

Radio Netherlands Worldwide is today launching a daily Arabic radio programme called ‘Huna Amsterdam’ (Here’s Amsterdam. This young-sounding news and current affairs programme is aimed at a progressive audience looking for independent information. The radio broadcasts can be heard from now on throughout the Middle East and the Maghreb via shortwave, satellite and www.rnw.nl/hunaamsterdam.The radio broadcasts will be launched officially on 15 November during a special debate that Radio Netherlands Worldwide is organising in Morocco (Rabat). The debate ‘Moroccan brats and disrespectful Dutch’ is about the media and the formation of reciprocal images in the Arabic and the Western world.Migrant communitiesThe radio programme is aimed at the entire Middle East and the Maghreb, particularly focusing on Morocco, the Palestinian territories and Iraq. The editors of Huna Amsterdam will be bringing news, analysis and reports from the region and from the Netherlands/Europe as well as reporting from migrant communities. The Arabic desk at Radio Netherlands Worldwide also has a website: www.rnw.nl/hunaamsterdam.DivideRadio Netherlands Worldwide hopes the broadcasts will help close the divide between the Arabic and Western worlds. Director General Jan Hoek explains: “More than ever the two worlds seem to be talking simultaneously and at cross purposes, rather than with each other. The Arabic world is clearly in need of an independent moderate (Muslim) sound, one which encourages dialogue.”Broadcast times and frequenciesRadio Netherlands Worldwide will broadcast the radio programme during the evening hours via shortwave, satellite, podcasts and audio streams on www.rnw.nl/hunaamsterdam. Radio Netherlands Worldwide will soon be adding broadcasts on mediumwave and via FM partners, who will take over parts of the programme. Here are the options for reception:

Radio Netherlands used to broadcast in Arabic, but stopped after more than four decades in 1994. “We will build on our past knowledge, contacts and reputation. But our main target group is not our old audience. Today’s listeners are much younger,” says Jan Hoek.(Source: R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Friday, October 24, 2008

Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel logAntarctica15476, LRA36, Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel, Base Esperanza (presumed), 2055-2058*, 10/23/2008, Spanish. Frequently hear only a carrier on 15476. Today, heard pop music briefly peaking above the noise at 2055. This was followed by a woman talking at 2056. The signal fell below the noise soon thereafter, but the carrier was heard until 2058. Modulation was audible on USB and the USB side of DSB only. LRA36 is readable only once or twice per year here. A very tentative log today, but no doubt it was this station. Logged on the RX-340 and the 90' wire. (Jim Evans, TN)

ChinaXizang 7240 Xizang PBS 2200 with slithly overlaoded audio and some audio background buzz with talks by man in tibetan THis was on 19 but same as on 20 with neaerl samer heard in the start of thee plug in Tibetan program in the normally Chnese program in these freqs .What happens??? Lianags 19 and 20 OCt. http://zlgr.multiply.com/journal/item/168 (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece/Cumbre DX)

QSL fronm Radio VerdadGuatemala4052.5 On Oct 04, I received this message from the Director of R Verdad: "To all Friends of "Radio Truth": I send you my best wishes. Many may ask: What happen to "Radio Truth"? Iam sorry, but, because excess of work, it is now that I send you the official information.

On Monday, September 22, at 4:00 p, m. (Guatemala time), a desastrous lightning fell upon our SW transmitter antenna, despite having 3 lightning rods, with 3 tips each, the electric transformer lightning rod, and a well calibrated sparky devise inside of the transmitter, with a good grounding using number two copper wire. As a consequence, we got almost all powertransistors burned out and some smaller ones, on our outcome two modules.

So, we are off the air, and we don't know for how long. I though I had enough spare power transistors, but they were not enough. Our transistors are very strange, and difficult to find in all the world. They work on 600 volts. So, we'll have to ask them to be produced in the United States.

We appreciate our friends Magdiel Cruz, from Mexico, Dino Bloise, from Miami, and other friends, who have spread out this information. We expect the help of Christer Brunstroem, from Sweden, and HCJB also. We are grateful for the sympathy expressed by many "Dxers". Now, we have to ask God to help us, for coming back on the air. On the mean time, I invite you to tune our signal over Internet, on the following address:http://www.radioverdad.org/Edgar Amilcar Madrid, Manager and Director.(Adalberto Marques de Azevedo, MG-Brazil, DSWCI DX Window Oct 15)

ICPO update (Islands, Castles & Portable Operations)The Northern California DX Foundation, NCDXF, is now QRV on Twitter! Twitter users can follow NCDXF by going to http://twitter.com/NCDXF/ and clicking on the "Follow" link. We intend to use Twitter to keep DXers informed about NCDXF activities and related news.

If you're not really sure what Twitter is all about, just go to http://twitter.com/ to find out. Chances are pretty good that several of your ham buddies or other friends and family members are already active on Twitter. You might also want to look at some of the many free Twitter tools and related applications, such as Twhirl. www.twhirl.org/.If you have any questions, feel free to ask!Tim Totten, N4GNE-mail: n4gn@n4gn.comWeb: www.n4gn.com

QSL from GreenlandE-mail confirm 30gg, from OZN-372 khz Prins Christian Sund, GreenlandDear Sir.Thanks for your letter concerning our NDB OZN. The beacon is used flight navigation and is placed at the east side off south Greenland where the sound Prins Christian Sund is crossing the land.The beacon is part of different communication system placed at the station which is placed 80 km from the nearest city and served by helicopter once a month. There is 4 peoble and 3 dogs at the station. A picture off the beacon antenne mast and house is incerted.Sorry but we dont have QSL card.Regard fromPoul Erik HansenPrins Christian Sund telestation(Mauro Giroletti, Italy/playdx2003)

The following reply via a posting on ODXA, is in response to the on going opinions and disdane from shortwave radio listeners on Radio Netherlands' decision to end their North American service. Shortwave Central hopes this finally puts an end to this dispute and DXers will move on. Radio Netherlands has not closed their entire shortwave service - only those targeted towards North America. Try tuning in other target areas.Gayle Van Horn

A lot of people seem to have the idea that we have a level of "top management" that decides these things. In fact, that's not the way it works here. Jan Hoek is 'captain of the ship', but delegates all decisions about technical matters to those who understand them. The decision we eventually arrived at was reached through a meeting of minds in the Strategy department (which I work for), the Programme Distribution separtment, and the English department. It was discussed and evaluated extensively since summer 2007. No money-saving considerations were involved. We are not saving a cent on transmitter time, merely redirecting the transmissions to an area that will give us more listeners per dollar. The Bonaire transmitters will be used to boost our Spanish service, which gets feedback from South America many times larger than English to North America.

Shortwave to North America has been on the agenda for several years. Following the BBC's withdrawal seven years ago, all international broadcasters felt the effect. It was especially tough on RNW, since a lot of people used to discover us on 6165 when tuning across the 49 mb looking for the BBC, one of whose frequencies was 6175.

We battled on, but bigger broadcasters than us, notably Deutsche Welle, pulled out. The response to our North American shortwave broadcasts was reduced to a trickle. Even then, we decided to give it one last push, and asked regular listeners to let us know they were out there. By regular, I mean at least once a week, since our feature programmes are weekly. The response continued to be poor.

The problem with the responses we did get was that I recognised a lot of the names as SWL's and DXers who respond in a similar way to other international broadcasters when they announce cuts. Now, I'm not saying they never listen to us, but when it gets to the point that you know many of your listeners by name, you have to question just how many there are out there.

The business has changed dramatically in the last five years. Interactivity is the buzzword now - forums, online feedback etc. We still get a lot of feedback for our English programmes from Africa and Asia, but relatively little from North America. Most of the feedback we do get from North America comes via our website - in fact, over 50% of the page views are from North America.

We are not surprised by this trend - other international broadcasters have noticed the same thing. Perhaps you are not aware that the EBU has an international broadcasting group that meets twice a year, and the broadcasters share ideas and experiences with each other. So the idea that RNW should in some way be an exception doesn't hold water. The market has changed, and all the broadcasters - big and small - are affected. The only reason some stations haven't yet cut their North American shortwave services is that not all of them constantly evaluate what they do. We have to, as the Dutch government is demanding ever more information about how we spend the budget it gives us.

So in that sense, there's financial pressure to justify each activity, and if we can't justify it we have to stop it. But nobody put pressure on us to decide one thing or another. It was purely the result of a methodical analysis of the situation. I personally regret it, but from a professional level it was, in the end, inevitable. What I find pathetic is the attempts of some people (not anyone on this list) to claim, without any supporting evidence, that we are stupid, we don't know what we are doing, etc. On the contrary, we spent a lot of time making sure that we were not mistaken about the size of our North American shortwave audience. But at the end of the day, the facts are indisputable.Andy. (Sennitt)

Andy,I did not mean for that term to be applied to you. I assumed that the final decision was made at a level far higher than you. I work in an industry that is constantly under financial pressure and the employees are constantly describing all financial decisions as coming from bean counters. That is no excuse for what I did but it does explain where my mind happened to be.

I have always appreciated your honesty, integrity, and service to the hobby, and will continue to do so. I apologize for making you feel slighted or made to seem insignificant in any way.Mark CoadyEditor, Your Reports/Listening In MagazineCo-Moderator, ODXA YahoogroupOntario DX Association

earlier post:Media Network says that The State We're in is carried on local FM and sattelite, so I took a look. It's too bad we won't have the other good programs we're used to, but half a loaf, eh? They listed public radio station WGBH as carrying The State We're in for the Boston Either their schedule is old, or Media Network was optimistic about who would carry the program. I'm not about to listen 24/7 for a week to see if I can find it, and no one else in New England is listed. If you live here, you're out of luck (Dan Malloy, KA1RDZ/Oct 20/ODXA)

The shortsightedness of this decision reveals the bean counters at Radio Netherlands to be totally lacking in their understanding of the small North American market for international radio. The idea of shortwave radio is that it serves a widely dispersed market cheaply.

Those who are most prone to listen international radio are either doing it via the internet or shortwave - satellite radio's market penetration is not there yet. And forget CBC's overnight service who have them on for 55 minutes starting at 1:05 AM. Aside from shift workers and insomniacs, who else is up at that hour who is sober enough to listen and comprehend the program?

It really is unfortunate as Radio Netherlands used to be a dominant player in international broadcasting. When the BBC abandoned North America, Radio Netherlands stepped right up to the plate and took over the BBC's former times and frequencies from Sackville for a while.

And about their listener survey they so proudly cite --- who on this list ever got contacted about their listening habits? It's fine to put a poll on the website but not everyone goes there but radio listeners do go to their radio dials. I just finished one of those week long radio surveys put on by BBM. Of course I only entered local AM and FM stations while I was in my car or at work. But I dutifully noted in the survey that when I am at home I listen to shortwave (Mark Coady, Editor, Your Reports/Listening In/ODXA)

It was mentioned for several weeks (months) on their nightly broadcasts that they were interested in hearing about listener habits in North America. I did reply, but it was, like my replies to BBC and DW surveys, not the winner (Mick Delmage, Canada/ODXA)

Mark, I heard RNW appeal on a nightly basis for months and months for comments by listeners on their listening habits and use of shortwave. Can't understand how anyone who was a regular listener would miss that (John Figliozzi, NY/ODXA)

Bhutan6035, BBS, 1428-1438*, Oct 22, in English. Very pleasant young woman announcer with call-in show, mostly young girls calling in, pop music, mixing with PBS Yunnan (in Vietnamese). After BBS went off Yunnan had fair reception. Re-checked at 1456 but BBS had not returned (Ron Howard, CA)

6035, BBS, 1404-1416*, Oct 21, in English. A very nice surprise today to actually hear them with some decent modulation/audio, unfortunately PBS Yunnan (in Vietnamese) was about equal strength and mixing with BBS, clearly heard some of the news and one ID for "Bhutan Broadcasting Service" at the end of the news, 1416 the audio ended before they started their announcements. This is encouraging that their audio was better than it has been for the past month, if not for the China QRM it probably would have been fair reception (R. Howard, CA)

Bolivia6155.30, Radio Fides, 0912-0930. Male with steady Spanish language comments. Heard the place name "Santa Cruz" often. Following the initial comments, the rest of the Spanish comments seemed to be political. Others join the commotion including a couple of females as the comments continued. Signal did not improve enough for ID, but remained poor. (C. Bolland, FL October 21, 2008)

5996.28,Radio Loyola,0125-0135. At tune in, noted a live scoccer game. Checked 6155.30 and they both sounded in parallel; so my doubts about 6155.30 are eliminated and 6155.30 is Bolivia. Here on 5996.28, signal was fair to poor. (Chuck Bolland,FL October 23, 2008)

5952.54, Emisoras Pio XII, 0135-0145. Female/male in Spanish language conversation. There's a lot of splatter on this signal, but it's still at a fair level as the talk continues. However, station gone by 0150. But carrier still on the air. (Chuck Bolland, FL October 23, 2008)

6134.35, Radio Santa Cruz, 0927-0935 Noted a male in Spanish language news. Checked this just to make sure the above logging on 6155.30 wasn't actually this station Santa Cruz, and it wasn't. "5 en manana y 28 minutos". This was follow with music. Very good signal this morning. (C. Bolland, FL October 21, 2008)

4716.73, Radio Yura, 0151-0200. With music at tune in for a minute,then a female in Spanish Language comments. After a minute, music continues. Signal very good at this time. Best I have heard in a longtime.Conditions are excellent this evening. At 0202 female returns and gives ID as, "... Radio Yura...", then back to music. (Chuck Bolland, October 23, 2008)

3310, Radio Mosoj Chaski, 0206-0215. Lots of noise on this band, but that's the statusquo usually, Noted a male and female in Spanish language conversation. Heard Bolivia mentioned often by both persons. Signal was just holding it's own with the noise, butstill better than usual.(Chuck Bolland, FL October 23, 2008)

China4750, CNR-1, 1340-1402, Oct 21. Almost all the CNR-1 frequencies were not heard today. Heard under a fairly strong Bangladesh (RRI not heard at all), with Chinese programming, clearly parallel with 4800 (light QRM from assume AIR) and 7275 (fair). Thanks to Sei-ichi Hasegawa's tip that most of the CNR-1 frequencies are off the air (R. Howard, CA) see Malaysia/Sarawak

Djibouti4780, Radio Djibouti (presumed), 0303-0333, Oct 18. First time I have been able to hear this on the west coast! An amazing night for African reception! Chanting (probably reciting from Qur'an), 0312-0331 long non-stop talking by man in what sounded like Arabic, music fanfare and more talking, poor to fair. Back in Dec. 1971, I also heard them on 4780, but from my location on the East coast and QSL'ed ORTF "Station de Djibouti" from the French Territory of the Afars and Issas (R. Howard, CA)

Indonesia9680, RRI Jakarta, 1051-1100. With a male in Indonesian language comments, noted a program music and live comments. Signal remained at a good level during the listening period. (C. Bolland, FL October 21, 2008)

Malaysia/Sarawak5030, Sarawak FM via RTM, 1250-1326 + 1352 +1423, Oct 21. With CNR-1 off the air here, Sarawak FM was doing very well, in vernacular, woman DJ with pop songs, several "RTM Kuala Lumpur" and many "Sarawak FM" IDs, ToH 2 pips, RTM news (news only was // 5964.93v Klasik Nasional FM), after the news a man DJ with music dedications, fair to good reception, at 1306 noted a strong open carrier turned on for about 10 seconds, a test by CNR-1? Parallel with 7130 (fair till after 1300, when started mixing with CNR-2/CBR) (R. Howard, CA)

Myanmar5985.0, Myanma Radio, 1525-1540, Oct 22. Pop music, in vernacular before 1530 along with indigenous instrumental music, into English, ID with frequencies, news about the activities of various generals of the Department of Defense, item about the 16th Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competition, weather (gives present conditions along with forecast though tomorrow evening and conditions for Myanmar waters), promo for the 16th Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts competition, "Dear listeners, now you can hear the evening music program, Listening Pleasure", EZL songs, fair, best reception so far this DX season (R. Howard,CA)

Peru4826.53, Radio Sicuani, 0022-0100. Noted a male in Spanish language comments here. He is joined by a second fella on the telephone. Later a female joins the group. As time progresses the signal begins to fade and by 0100 is practically gone due to fading. Still on the air however. Just too weak to copy. (C. Bolland, FL October 23, 2008)

Philippines9615, Radio Veritas Asia, 1040-1050. Initially noted a male and female in Chinese language comments. Some music interspersed as an accent. At 1045, a second male comments. All the comments are probably religious? No interference noted from Firedrake which was expected though. Signal was good.(C. Bolland, FL October 21, 2008

Zambia4965, CVC, 0253, Oct 18, in English. Christian preaching, at the end of sermon she asks listeners to call or write to Radio Christian Voice, fair-good, on Oct 19 conditions had returned to just average African reception, so Oct 18 reception was unique (R. Howard, CA)

6165, ZNBC/Radio 2, 0243, Oct 18. Heard their interval signal (the call of the African Fish Eagle was strong here (also on 5915) (FYI: the Fish Eagle is shown on their 10 Kwacha currency <>); 0343-0359 in English, Christian preacher with African sounding accent, he hoped people would show up for church tomorrow at 7:30 at Independence Avenue, near the Civic Center in Lusaka. Surprised to find this religious program here as it sounded more like a CVC type program, fair, at 0359 RN signed-on totally covering Zambia (R. Howard, CA)

Welcome to our weekly guide to Radio Netherlands Worldwide's English Service - a list of the new programs coming up on Radio Netherlands Worldwide this week, beginning on Saturday.

SATURDAY 25 October *** The State We're In ***

This week on The State We're In, Afghanistan, Women, and Education. We begin with a look at the opportunities for women in Kabul. We meet one family that had to choose who will go to school, and who will stay home and work - the girls, or the boys?

Then, we look at the cultural devastation in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban, and the ways in which Afghans are trying to keep their culture alive.

Then, we meet the Sahrawi women of Western Sahara. They've taken huge strides in providing education - but do they have jobs?

And, we meet a young Iranian woman who was denied a place in medical school because the government decided there needed to be more male doctors. So she sued the Iranian government. We'll hear what happened, this week on The State We're In.

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe. If you missed any editions of Network Europe Week satisfy your needs with this digest of the programme's top stories.

This week on Curious Orange we'll have segments from our live show at Expatica's "I'm not a tourist" Fair! We'll hear from Language Lady Joyce Goggin, Music Man Robbert Tilli, musician Lucky Fonz III, and even from the audience, with their Lost in Translation stories. Also on the show, we'll tell you a bit about the new Radio Netherlands Listener's Panel and how you can join it.

Broadcast times on WRN UTC:0400 Africa, Asia0500 North America2200 Asia

*** The State We're In - Midweek Edition ***

This week on The State We're In, Midweek Edition, Afghanistan, Women, and Education. We begin with a look at the opportunities for women in Kabul. We meet one family that had to choose who will go to school, and who will stay home and work - the girls, or the boys?

Then, we look at the cultural devastation in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban, and the ways in which Afghans are trying to keep their culture alive.

Broadcast times on WRN UTC:0400 Africa, Asia0500 North America2200 Asia

*** Radio Books ***

'Amandine, or a thousand letters of love'- by Ivo Michiels

The writing career of Ivo Michiels stretches back half a century. He made his literary debut just after World War II and is credited with introducing the modernistic novel into Flemish literature.His haunting story 'Amandine' is about a Red Cross worker hopelessly in love with a train conductor.

Broadcast times on WRN UTC:0400 Africa, Asia0500 North America2200 Asia

*** Earthbeat ***

Earthbeat is an Energy special this week, focussing on some of the alternatives to fossil fuels. Delft technical university aims to plug itself into geothermal energy, effectively creating a giant radiator, with its hot water source two kilometres below the surface.

Thijs Westerbeek reports on tidal energy initiatives and we'll have the chart countdown of the unusual renewables that we've featured on this show. Remember solar trees?

Broadcast times on WRN UTC:0400 Africa, Asia0500 North America2200 Asia

*** Bridges with Africa ***

Lively discussion and thought-provoking reports about and from the African continent.

We're giving the microphone to Diaspora groups in Europe and linking up with stations in Africa. The show goes beyond the clichés of starving children and war-ridden countries and seeks to bring you genuine voices from a vibrant continent.

With the start of the B08 shortwave broadcasting season on Sunday 26 October, SW Radio Africa, which broadcasts to Zimbabwe from studios in the United Kingdom, will change its shortwave frequency on the 25 meter band from 12035 to 11745 kHz. The parallel 60 mb frequency, 4880 kHz, will continue unchanged.(Source: SW Radio Africa/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Text of report by Norway-based Burmese Democratic Voice ofBurma website, on 20 OctoberDear listeners, beginning from Monday, 27 October, the daily radio programs of the Democratic Voice of Burma [DVB] will be increased by an hour while some current broadcasting frequencies will be changed.The new extended broadcast will be aired from 1930 to 2030 Burma Standard Time [BST] [ 1300 to 1400 gmt] on shortwave 25 meter band with frequency 11880 KHz. The regular 0600 to 0700 BST morning programme will be changed to shortwave 49 meter band with frequency 5955 KHz while the regular 2100 to 2200 BST evening programme will be changed to shortwave 16 meter band with frequency 17495 KHz and shortwave 31 meter band with frequency 9415 KHz. These changes will take effect on 27 October.Beginning from Monday, 27 October, DVB will broadcast three radio programmes daily - 0600 to 0700 BST programme on shortwave 49 meter band with frequency 5955 KHz, 1930 to 2030 BST programme on shortwave 25 meter band with frequency 11880 KHz and 2100 to 2200 BST programme on shortwave 16 meter band with frequency 17495 KHz and on shortwave 31 meter band with frequency 9415 KHz.(Source: Democratic Voice of Burma website, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 20 Oct 08 via BBC Monitoring/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced that the national broadcaster, TRT, will launch a channel in Kurdish in January, Today’s Zaman reports. He said the broadcasts would initially be for 12 hours a day and that broadcasting hours would be increased later. Mr Erdogan was speaking during a visit to the southeastern province of Diyarbakir, which has a large Kurdish population.Although the government previously pledged to launch broadcasts in minority languages this month, no concrete steps have been taken to start these broadcasts. The plans include the allocation of one of TRT’s stations for broadcasts in Kurdish, Arabic and Farsi.(Source: Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Media Broadcast operates transmitters in Germany, leased by shortwave stations, including clandestines and independent stations throughout the world. Located in northeast Germany, Media Broadcast, formerly known as T-Systems, is recognized as one of the leading transmission sites in Europe.

The following schedules represents those stations broadcasting during the B08 schedule period.Gayle VH

Equatorial Guinea15190 Radio Africa at 1906 Gospel preacher discussing sin, also at 2004 with another preacher. (Weak but in the clear Oct. 18 Harold Sellers, DXing near Parry Sound, Ontario with Eton E1 on whip antenna)

Sao Tome11720 Voice of America at 2059 ending program and shutting down with ID. This is only on Sat/Sun 2030-2100. (Good Oct. 18 Harold Sellers, DXing near Parry Sound, Ontario with Eton E1 on whip antenna)

Indonesia11785 Voice of Indonesia at 2008 tune-in, playing gamelan music which continued non-stop to past 2031 when I tuned away. I was looking for their English programming. (Good Oct. 18 Harold Sellers, DXing near Parry Sound, Ontario with Eton E1 on whip antenna)

Geomagnetic field activity was at predominately quiet to unsettled levels on 13 - 16 October. Active to isolated minor storm conditions were observed at high latitudes on 13 - 15 October.Mostly quiet conditions prevailed from 17 - 19 October. ACE solar wind observations indicated that a recurrent coronal hole high-speed stream disturbed the field during 13 - 16 October, with initial solar wind velocities at about 550 km/s. Speeds steadily decayed throughout the next seven days and ended the summary period near 300km/s.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity22 October - 17 November 2008

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet levels during 22 - 27 October. Activity is expected to increase to unsettled to active levels during 28 - 31 October due to a recurrent coronal hole high-speed stream. Activity is expected to decrease to mostly quietlevels during 01 - 06 November as the high-speed stream subsides. Activity is expected to increase to minor storm levels with a chance for major storm periods on 07 November due to a recurrent coronal hole high-speed stream. Activity is expected to decrease to unsettled to active levels on 08 - 09 November as the high-speed stream subsides. From 10 - 17 November, activity levels are expected to mostly quiet.